Ship protector



I. G., sMlTH. SHIP PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED JULYIB, I92I.

Patented Oct. 241, 1922..

STORAGE @Home vp l. G. SMITH..

SHIP PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED mula, 192|.

122mm oct. 22,', 2922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w... l 2% 3 4 A /2 a a 5 .l 2 W u 6 k 3 W naar Q J 7 o tr... 9 3 6 M a 0 F. 8 9 v. 0 ww 32 22.2122 1h.. lx Wow w 5 5 8 l NJN (Pl 2.1 0N ((4 8 /l /l ./1 7 l l 6 5 2 Z m w w @of J`. G. SMITH.

SHIP PROTECTOR. APPLlcA'TloN FILED lun/1a. 1921.

mmm 001524,19221 gva/vento@ 3.SHEETS-SHEET 3.

rallenta ed., al., ieaa I .roi-rn e. `sivirrrr, or"` ajacirson, .rnnnnssnn `starr rnorncron.

i f applica-tien inea :muy 1e', 192i. sei-iai no. 435,514.

To all whom imag/concern: i i

1j Be itknownlthat l, JOHN G1 SMITH, acitiaan of the United States, residing at Jack-y sonf, inthe county of Madisonand State ofi'llennessee, have invented 1 certain Vnew and useful Improvements in Ship Frotectors, of

- `whichthefollovving is a specification. i

This invention `relates to ships, and the primary objectief` the invention is tofprovide afniinproved protecting device therefor, so

` as to effectively prevent injury tothe hull l extended positioninrelation to the hull ofi shown in section. t

i Figure@ is an enlarged detail view through A i offtheship by shells, mines, or by collision.

Another obJect of theinventionisthe provision of expansibleguard members carried `by the sides and boiv of the ship `having an improved means for moving the saineto an vide an improved" armor for the hulls i of ships embodying novel movable protecting plates, the plates being connectedvvith `the hull of the ship by pneumatic shock absorbers, which effectively prevent the transmission of shock to the hull of` the ship set up by any cause.

" 'Afstill further object` ofthe invention is toprovide an improved means for protecting ships of the above character, which is durable and eflicient in use, one that is sinn-` ple and easy to manufacture, and one which can bc incorporated With ships at a `minimum cost.

TWith these andother objects in view, vthe invention consists inthe novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will be lhereinafter more specifically described, claimed .and illustrated inthe accompanying` drawings, forming a part of this specifica` tion,` in which drawings:

Figure '1 is a diagrammatic view of the improved `protecting device "incorporated with a hullof a ship,` the ship hull being one of theshock absorbing and operating cylinders for the bow and protecting device,

taken on the lineQ--Q of Figure `l.

Figure 3 is afragmentary detail horizontal section, takenonthe line 3 3 of Figure 2,rillustrat ing the means of operatively connectingtheside plates of the bOW protecting device together.

Figure e is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section through a portion of thev side of the ship, taken on the line lf-#t ofy .Figure l.

` -Figure 5 is a detail longitudinal section taken en the `line 5 5 oflFigure 6, illustratingfthe means of mounting the bow armor on the actuating pistons.

Figure 6 is a detail vertical section taken on the `line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail section taken on the line 7'-7 of Figure 2, illustrating the means for connecting the cylindersto the armor of tlieship.`

Figure '8 is an enlarged detail View, partly in section, of one of thesvalves utilized for controlling the air toV the operating and shoclr absorbingcylinders." i i Figure 9 is a plan vievv of the same.

Figure" l0` is a detail section through the valve, taken onthe line 10--10 of Figure 8. i Figure 'l1 is a longitudinal section through the operating handle therefor.

Vl*`i ure 12 is `a fragmentary longitudinal section takeiithrough the relief valve carried by `each "of the cylinders.v y y Referring `to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters design nate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A indicates the ship; and B,.the improved protecting device therefor.

The ship A has been merely shown for rthe purpose'of illustrating the improved invention, and maybe of any referred size ortype. As shoivrnthe ship lincludes the sides `l0, the bow 1l, and the stern l2. The

Aimproved protecting device B includes the side protecting device C, the bow protecting device D, and the means E and F for controlling the movements of the protecting devices B and @and for absorbing shock transmitted to these devices.

lhenieans C for protecting the sides of the shiirincludes the longitudinally eXtending side" plates l5 andlG, which can be made of steel arinorplateif so desired. I do not `desire,hoWever, to vlimity myself to forming the plates of solid steel, as it" can be'readilyseen that the same can be formed ioo or" steel netting, lattice work or the like. The side plates 15 and 16 extend the entire length of the sides of the ship, and the rear ends thereof are curved inwardly as at 17 to provide aprotection for the stern ofthe ship, as can be readily seen by referring to Figure 1 of the drawings.

The protecting device D for the bow of the ship includes side plates 18 and 19, which are curved to conform to the configuration of the bow of 'the ship, which it is` associated with. The rear terminals of the plates 18 and 19, overlie the plates 15 and 16, so that during the expansion or the extending of these plates to their operative positions, the saine willnot pass each other, and thus leave a portion of the hull exposed. These plates 18 andA 1 9 have their forward terminals provided with hinged barrels'20 which receive a suitable pivot rod 21. Thus it can be seen that theseplates 18 and 19 can be swung on the pivot rod 21 toward and away from the opposite portions of the ship. Y

The means E and F for moving the protecting devices C and Dy to their operative andinoperative positions and for absorbing shock are constructed identically the same, and each includes a plurality of pneumatic cylinders 25 and 30. A s shown, the cylinders 25 are arranged along the sides 10 of the ship, while the cylinders 30 are arranged along the bow of the ship, and if so desired a series of superposed rows of these cylinders may be provided, so that the plates can be projected equi-distantly from the sides of the ship and all points thereof. Each of the cylinders 25 and 30 have slidably mounted therein,` pistons 26, which carry the outwardly extending piston rods 27. The piston rods V27 for the plates 15 and 16 of the protecting device C for the sides of the ships are provided with enlarged heads 28, which are riveted or otherwise secured to the plates as at 29. The outer ends of `the piston rods 27, which are positioned directly at the forward portion otn the ship, are provided with` eyes 29, which are extended around the pivot rods V21. The eyes 29 as shown, are disposed intermediate the hinged barrels 20 formed on the plates 18 and 19 of the bow protecting device.

The cylinders 25 and 30 can, be held in place by suitable brackets 26 as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings and the inner ends thereof can be provided with flanges 25 which can be riveted or otherwise secured as at 29 to the hull of the ship. The piston rods 27 extend through stuiiing boxes 28 carried by the sides of theship which prevent the seeping of water into the hull of the ship. lEach of the piston rods 27 of the cylinders 25 and 30 are provided with rebound springs 27', which engage suitable collars formed on the rods and against the stutling boxes 28. As shown, these springs tend to normally urge the pistons inwardly.

Now the pistons 27 for the bow protecting device D are located on the opposite sides ot' the pistons arranged directly at the front portion of the ship, and are also provided with eyes 31. These eyes 251 are mounted Yfor swinging movement on pivot pins 32, which are carried by brackets 39. These brackets 33 are secured to the inner faces of the carriages 34, which are mounted for sliding movement longitudinally oi? the. ship in tracks 35, which are secured to the inner faces of the side plates 18 and 19 of the bow protecting device D. The carriages 34; are provided at their upper and lower edges with anti-friction wheels 36, for engaging` the track, and at their inner edges with anti-friction wheels 37 which are adapt ed to engage the inner Vt'aces oi" the track. As shown the tracks 35 are of substantially channel beam construction.

It is obvious that when the. device is moved to its extended operative position, the plates 18 and 19 of the bow protecting device are allowed to slip forwardly, owing to the means ot mounting the plates on the carriagesas just described. This means forms an important part of my invention, as it can be seen that it permits the easy moving of the plates to their extended operative position, or to their contracted inoperative positions, with a minimum amount of cfort.

The pistons in the cylinders E and l" are adapted to be moved back and iorth by a suitable iiuid, such as compressed air, steam or the like, and as shown in the drawings, an air coi'npressor 50 is provided. This compressor 50 is connected by means ot' a line pipe 51 to a suitable storage tank 52. The compressor 50 and the storage tank 52 can be located at any preferred point on the ship. in order to control the flow o'tl the fiuid through the cylinders, a valve 55 is provided. A valve 56 is also provided for controlling the exhaust from the cylinders` and the valves 55 and 56 are constructed identi cally the same. As shown, each oi these valves and 56 include a dome-shaped body 57, which is secured to a suitable base 58 which has arranged therein a valve plate or seat 59. rllhis valve plate or seat 59 engaged by a rotary valve plate 60, which is provided with a valve stem 61. The valve Stein 61 has the terminals rotatably mounted respectively in the dome 57 and the base 58, and upon movement ot'the valve stem, the valve pate 60 will be moved therewith. The upper end of the valve stem 61 is provided with a` polygonal portion, which. is adapted to tit in the polygonal portion 62 ot ,the operating handle 63. This operating handle 68 is provided with a suitable pivotal dog` 64 which is adapted to engage in indentations `formed in'the upperfportioniof the dome,

whichhold the lvalve `stein andvalve plate 60 against movement. The valve plate 60 is prowidedwith a single opening` 67, whichy is adapted to be moved into;` registration :with

any one of aplurality of openings 68 formed in the platefQ,` rl`hese openingstltorrned i in the plate 59 have coninninicating;there-i` with' pipes,'whichnwill be hereinafter niore fully fdescribed. The dome 57 of the valve 55 has communicating1 therewith a lead pipe 69, which extends trom the `storage tank.` The deine 57` ot the valve 56 has co-inniunie eating therewith a pipe, which` leads to the` atmosphere. n n i i Asshown, each of the plates `59 arev provided with `four,` openings 68,` and these `openings of the valve are designated rei spectively by the reference characters 1R. 2B; 20.

1L andwQTj. .The plategfQof the valve 56has these openings designated respectively by `the reference charactersN34R` 3L fandfd.

. 9 7 Theopenings 13,212.1?. and 2L have coin# Inunicating` therewith respectively line pipes y7.0, 7l, 7 2 and 7 3. `The pipesf70 and 7l` control f the expansion and ,contracting of the side protecting devices C andfhave corn- Inunicating therewithbranch pipes- 74, `and i 75, which lead respectively tolthe rear and front portions o't` theocylinders 25.` rlhe pipes 72 and 73 control theexpansion and contraction of the,bow.protectingdevice and have` branch pipes 76 and 7 7` coinniuni` eating respectively therewith, which lead respectively to the rearand rontportions of thecylinders. n i. As stated,` the valveadcontrols the eX- `haustifrorn the cylinders and the openings 3R and il? have "communicatingtherewith line Ipipes 78 and'79, which control the enu haustiroin theicylinders 25 ofthe side pro-` .tecting deviceC. rlhe pipes 78 and`79` have `communieating therewith the `branch pipes i SOand 6l, which leadl respectively to the forward and rear ends lci the eylindersQ.

The openings 3 and 4.1 have cornnfinnicat ing therewith pipes 82 and, andcontrol exhaust troni the bowl` protecting,"` cylinders 30;` rlfhese pipesiSQ `and,fhave corninunicating therewith a vplurality of branch pipes Sli 2111751.85, lead respectively to `the rearandzt'orward portieiisoi the cylinders 30. `lf so` desired, the pipes 7 O, 7l, 72 and-78 leading` i'frorntheval've 55 may1 be provided with checlr valves 86, inlorder to `hold the pressure within the donieA 57 of this valve.

i `in operation ot' `the `improved protecting o devices C and D, when itis desired to nieve the plates l5` and 16 olil the side protecting devices, and the plates l@ and 19` `ot e, the valve protecting deviceDto extended operative position as shown `byi'dotti-id lines jin `lilignre l ofthe drawingsythe handle eff the valve 55 1s first operated, so as to align the openings 67 inthe valve plate 60 with theopening il. which will permit/fthe flow oi tlnidiroin the dome of tlievalve through the pipe to the branch pipes 7d tothe rearend oi thecylinders. This will torce the pistons26`tc the forward: ends olZ- the cylinders, 'thnsyinovingthe plates l5 and 16 to theireteifided operative position. The handle 63 oit the valve 55 is then niovedto align the open-ing` 2L whichwill permit the liow `ci the fluid to *the pipe 72, the vliranch. pipes 76,` :to the rear ends of the cylinders 3()v cf the bow protecting device l), which will ioifcefthe pistoni-i` in' these `cylinders to their extended position, and the plates lS'fand `i9 to their extended positions. This movement oit the pistons il'orces theplates lSand i9 i 'lorwardly and outwardly, which movement' ispernntted by the hinginp; of the plates 16 and# 19 and theirgconnection with the pistonrods E26 as heretobe'tcre described.

`When itisdesiredv to inove the protectingv devices@ and l),-to`` their iiioperzdive positions adjacent to the sides otthezship, the lirandle63olil the valve 56 is operated, so to `inove the` opening 67 in the. valve plate. 60pt. this valve in alignment with the opening 3L., which will establish atmos` ioo permit fluid to flow through the :branchr pipes 77 yto the forward ends of the cylin-` ders `8O, wliichfwill force the pistons`26` rearwardly and thus iii-ove the bow protectsA e inggdeviceD inwardly.` The handle 63 of the valvel 56 is then operated to inovewthel opening` 67 into registration with the open-` i ings 3R fwhichvpcrniits the establishine,` ot' atrnosplrericall eoin'rnnnication with the rear ends et the cylinders 25 throughthe branch pipes 8 1! and theinain pipe 79.- The handle` 63 of the valve 55 is then moved so as fto align its opening` 67 with the openings 2R which permit the flow of tlnid to the main pipe '7l and the branch pipes 75 and the fluid entering1 the forward end of the cyl-` rit` inder F25 will force the pistons rearwardly,

thu-s moving` the plates 15 and 1.6 of the side protecting device t, to their inner positions. i

the protecting devices (l and l) have been forcibly returned to their inoperative position by pressure and it is desired 'to again extend the saine, the pressure from the toi-ward ends ci the cylinders 25 and SO `is released by the operation oi' the `valve 56 i airintroduced to the rear end of the cylinders' -J5 and 30 by theactuationoi the valve 55, .which will again move the plates G and-D to their forward extended positions. Pressure is released from the rear ends .of the cylinders 25 and 30 by the actuation ofthe handle 63 of the valve 56, and it can be seen that the handle 63 is first operated so as to align the opening 67 of the valve plate of the'valve 56with the opening 4R, which will establish atmospherical communication with Athe forward ends of the `cylinders 25 through the branch pipes and the main pipe 7S. The valve handle 63 of the valve 55 is then operated, so as to align -the openings 67 of the valve 55 with the opening 1R which will permit the flow of `fluid through the main pipe '2'0 and the branch pipes Ta to the rear ends of the cyl- 'lnders 25 which will force the pistons forvwardly and the plates l5 and 16 to their extended operative positions.

The valve handles 63 of the valve is then operated, so as to align the openings 617 with the opening 4L, which will establish atmospherical communication with the forward ends of the cylinders 30 through the branch pipes 85 vand the main pipe 83.

align the opening 67 with the opening 2L, which will permit the flow of fluid to the line pipe 72 and the branch `pipe 76 to the rear' ends of the cylinders 30, thus moving the pistons outwardly and the pla yes 1S and 19, forwardly and outwardly.

A safety valve 9() is provided for each of the cylinders `25 and 30, and this safety valve is connected to the rear ends thereof. As shown, the safety valve l includes a cylinldrical casing 91, the forward end of which is provided with a nipple 92, which is threaded into the rear end of the cylinders as heretobefore stated. Each of the cylindrical casings 91 has reciprocably mounted therein apiston 93, which is normally forced toward the forward end of the casing 91 by means of an expansion spring 94,' which is coiled around the piston rod 95 of the piston 93. If so desired, the pistonl rod 95 may have its outer end provided with suitable graduations 96 and extended through a hollow screw 97, which can be utilized for adjusting the tension ofthe spring 95, in order to control the movement of the piston 93. The cylindrical casing 91 intermediate its ends is provided with air escape openings 98, and it can be seen that when the piston 93 is moved beyond the openiiigs 98 through excess pressure, the air is permitted to escape from the'rear ends of the cylindersu25 andv 30. These release or check valves are^'provide'd so that if the plates are struck by a shell or other obstruction, the air will be permitted to escape when the same is compressed to a certain pressure, in order to prevent the breaking of the cylinders. The too forcible return of the plates after the rihe valve handleA 463 of the valve 55 is then operated, so as to plates have been forced inwardly by a shell or the like, is prevented by the rebound spring 27.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that an improved and novel means has been provided for effectively protecting a ship from striking obstructions and the like.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

l claim:

l. The combination with a ships hull, of a protecting device therefor comprising side plates disposed on opposite sides of the hull and terminating short of the bow of the ship, rearwardly curved extensions formed on the rear edges of the side plates for protecting the stern of the ship, a pair of vfront plates for protectingr the bow of the ship, means pivotally securing the forward edges of the last mentioned plates together, means carried by the hull and engaging said pivot means for moving the last mentioned pair of plates outwardly of the bow, means for swinging the last mentioned plates on said pivot means, and means carried by the ship for moving` the side plates toward or away from the sides of the ship.

2. A ship protecting device, the combination with a ship hull, of a protecting device for the sides of the hull and for the bow of the hull including movable plates arranged for movement to *ard and away from the sides of the hull, a plurality of cylinders securcdto the hull and attending longitudinally thereof, pistons and piston rods reciuocally mounted in the cylinders, means for controlling the iiow of eonipressed air to each end of the cylinders, means for controlling the exhaust of air from each end of the cylinders, and expansion springs coiled about said piston rods for preventing rebound of said plates when said plates have been forcibly moved inwardly and for normally holding the plates to their inner normal positions.

3. rlhe combination with a ship hull, of a protecting device including protecting plates for the opposite sides of the hull and protecting plates for the bow of the hull, means pivotally connecting the plates for the bow of the hull together for swinging movement, a plurality of cylinders secured to the inner surface of the hull, pistons and piston rods reciprocally mounted in the cylinders, means rigidly securing the piston rods of certain cylinders to the plates for the sides of the hull, means slidahly and pivotally connecting certain of the piston rods to the plates for the bow of the hull, and means connecting certain other of the piston rods to the pivot means for connecting the plates for the bow of the hull together.

lll() l. Thecomloination Withaship hulland a protectingdeyice for the boWthereof including1 a pair of plates shaped to contorni to the coniigura'tion thereof, a pivot pin pivv otally connecting the forward ends of the plates together, tracks secured to the inner surface oit said plates, a plurality of cylinders carried bythe inner surfaceot the hull, `pistons and piston rods reciprocally mounted in the cylinders, carriages carried by cer.n tainpoic the piston rods and slidably mounted in saidtraclrs, and meansjpiyotallyv con- `necting certain other of the piston rods to ,30"` `of said rods to thehinge rod, and adjustable plates together.

the pivot pin utilized 5. The combination'with a ship hull, of

i a protecting device for the bow' thereof in `cludinga pair of plates `curved to contorni to the conguration oit the hull,`hinged bar-.

rels, formed on the forward edges of the plates, a hinge rod connecting the hinged barrels together, longitudinally extending tracks carried by the inner surface of the plates, carriages slidably :mounted in said y tracks, a plurality of longitudinally extending cylinders carried by the inner surface ofthe hull, piston and piston rods slidably mounted in said cylinders,ineans pivotally connecting certain of the piston rods to said carriages, means piyotally connecting other tor connecting they `valve for controlling` the `flow of luid forthe plates for the sides of the hull, branch relief Valves carried by `the rear ends of `mounted in said cylinders, means operatively connecting `the outer ends of the piston rods to said plates, supply pipesffor the cylinders `for the plates tor the bow oi hull, branch pipes connecting the supply pipes to opposite `ends ofsaid cylinders, a

through the supply pipes to the opposite ends of the cylinders for the plates for the sides of the ship and the lcylinders for the plates for the bowofthe ship, exhaust pipes for the cylinders of the looW plates and pipesconnecting the exhaust pipes to 4the opposite` ends` of all of the cylinders, and a separate valve construction for controlling the exhaust through said pipes.

`Joint e. sitirn, i i 

